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Apr 30, 2012 at 8:25 AMApr 30, 2012 at 8:25 AM

LOS ANGELES TIMES

At dress shops across the nation, mother-and-daughter pairs dressed in jeans and high school sweat shirts that read "Seniors 2012" are on a mission. It's officially springtime, and for many a young woman in high school, that can mean only one thing: Prom season has arrived.

The hunt for just the right dress can be a challenge. The little black dress may be the suitable go-to for almost every other occasion, but for prom, a simple black dress won't do. The perfect prom dress has to dazzle in pictures, make the wearer feel like a princess and hold up to a full night on the dance floor.

Whether you're looking for something fun and flirty or classic and conservative, this year's hottest trends have something for everyone. We talked to a few retailers to find out which dresses are sure to make a smashing entrance this prom season.

HIGH-LOW

The high-low hemline emerged a clear favorite this season at David's Bridal dress shops across the state, as well as at the Windsor at the Glendale Galleria and Unique Vintage, a small boutique in Burbank — Windsor's buyer Blanca Farber called it the biggest prom trend in California. The new silhouette gives the benefits of both a minidress and a gown, with a skirt that is short in the front and longer in the back. The skirts range in length from a longer train that trails behind to a shorter style that just grazes the floor.

"A lot of people are wanting to come in and try that on," said Kelly Edwards, manager at Unique Vintage, holding up an example of the style. "With the high-low dress we are seeing ruffles with them, so it's like a fun little cha-cha."

The most whimsical styles have prints lining the inside of the skirt — leopard, for instance. Others are lined with multiple layers of colored tulle.

NEON BRIGHTS VS. SOFT HUES

Many dresses this season induce optimism with their neon orange, lemon yellow and rich turquoise. At David's Bridal, dresses in neon orange sold out in about three weeks, while it's hard to find a little black dress even if you want one among the rainbow of colors at Windsor and Unique Vintage.

Cosmetic tones are too. The palette is pale, with nudes and blush pinks similar to the hues that dominated the red carpet at this year's Screen Actors Guild Awards.

"Every style we have put in blush pink this season has been tremendous for us, whether it's a soft chiffon style or princess ball gown. Any silhouette works in blush pink because it really looks soft and pretty and complements different skin tones," said Marissa Rubinetti, prom buyer for David's Bridal.

FEATHERS

Longer hemlines may be dominating this prom season, but for the girls who want a shorter cut, it's all about the feathers.

"We are seeing a lot of feathers on the shorter dresses, like feathered skirts that are really fun," Edwards said.

Tufts of feathers in all colors and lengths grace the hemlines of shorter, dropwaist dresses for a 1920s flapper feel. For a dramatic look, some gowns feature a full skirt of feathers or a feathered bust. If you want just a touch of fringe, there are long and short gowns with feather pins on one shoulder.

BALL GOWNS

Mini-dresses and bodyconscious styles might cut it for a night out, but girls who want to put a ladylike spin on prom are going straight for the classic ball gowns.

"For the last few years everything has been really sexy, but now we're seeing designs back in the ballgown area with really unique treatments like differing layers of tulle and appliques," Farber said.

Instead of the classic look of multiple overlapping layers of cinched satin, reminiscent of the Disney princess gown, the ball gowns this season feature an embellished neckline or bust with beading, and the colors veer into the bold and bright for a neon princess look.